Is Facebook Watch a free app?

Facebook Watch is a video service by Facebook where users can watch videos posted by individuals, media companies, and other organizations. It is a platform within the Facebook app and website that features original shows, content creators, and live streams. So is Facebook Watch a free app or does it require a subscription?

Is Facebook Watch free to use?

Yes, Facebook Watch is completely free to use. Any Facebook user can access Facebook Watch within the Facebook app or website at no additional cost. Users do not need to pay any subscription fees to watch content on Facebook Watch.

Facebook Watch is ad-supported, meaning Facebook shows ads before, during, and after Watch videos. The revenue from these ads is used to fund the video content on Watch. So users can enjoy free access to Watch videos, TV shows, and live streams as long as they are willing to view some ads.

Do you need a Facebook account to use Watch?

Yes, you need a Facebook account to use Facebook Watch. Watch is built into the Facebook platform, so it requires users to log into their Facebook accounts to view videos.

If you don’t already have a Facebook account, you can easily create one for free. All you need is an email address or phone number to sign up. Once you have a Facebook account, you can start watching videos on Watch right away without paying anything.

What content is available on Facebook Watch?

Facebook Watch offers a wide variety of video content including:

Original shows – Produced exclusively for Watch, like drama series, comedies, competition shows, and more.
News videos – Clips and live streams from news publishers and organizations.
Sports highlights – Official sports content from leagues and teams.

User-generated content – Videos posted by individual Facebook users and creators.
Live streams – Live broadcasts from celebrities, musicians, athletes, and influencers.

The content on Watch spans genres like entertainment, sports, news, comedy, lifestyle, and more. Videos range from quick clips under a minute to full TV episode lengths over 20 minutes. Facebook is also producing more and more original programming exclusively for Watch.

How is Watch different from Facebook Video?

Watch is essentially a hub and brand for all of Facebook’s video content in one place. Before Watch, users could view videos from their News Feed, pages they followed, or the Videos tab:

News Feed – Short clips and live streams mixed in with normal News Feed posts.
Pages – Videos posted by specific pages the user followed.

Videos tab – All videos tied to the user’s profile and interests.

Watch consolidates all these videos into a dedicated video browsing experience. It centralizes and organizes all the video content on Facebook. It also features more long-form, TV-style programming.

So Watch represents the evolution of Facebook video towards more structured shows and publishers, on-demand viewing, and branded original programming.

Does Facebook Watch have ads?

Yes, Facebook Watch does include advertising. Ads appear before, during, and after Watch videos in a few different formats:

Pre-roll ads – Appear before a video starts playing.
Mid-roll ads – Appear in the middle of a longer video.

Image/text ads – Display beside the video player.
Sponsored shows – Videos created by or in partnership with brands.

The ads help offset the cost of licensing and producing new content for Watch. Advertising is key to keeping the Watch platform free for viewers.

Can you save videos on Facebook Watch?

Unfortunately, there is no way to download or save videos from Facebook Watch. Because of licensing restrictions, Facebook does not allow users to permanently save Watch videos to their devices or storage.

However, there are a few workarounds:

Screen record – You can screen record videos as you watch them on Watch.

Copy link – Copy and paste the video URL to view it again later.
Use third-party tools – Browser extensions and apps can download Facebook videos.

But there is no official way to download the actual video files from Watch for offline viewing or storage. You have to watch videos directly within the Watch platform.

How do you find videos to watch on Facebook Watch?

There are a few ways to find videos to watch on Facebook Watch:

Watch feed – Scroll through recommended videos on the Watch feed page.
Search – Look for specific shows, topics, people, or publishers.

Follow shows – Subscribe to shows to get notified of new episodes.
Pages – Watch videos from creators or publishers you follow.
Groups – Join interest groups around TV shows, sports teams, etc.

Facebook’s algorithms will also recommend Watch videos for you based on your interests, pages you follow, and activity. So the more you watch, the better Watch gets at suggesting new videos.

Can you watch Facebook Watch on TV?

There are a few ways to watch Facebook Watch on a TV screen:

Using a smart TV’s Facebook app – Many smart TVs like Samsung, LG, and Sony have a built-in Facebook app with access to Watch.

TV streaming devices – You can view Watch on devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc. Just download the Facebook app.
Game consoles – The Facebook apps for Xbox and PlayStation also include Watch.
Screen mirroring – Cast or “mirror” your smartphone screen to your TV using WiFi and streaming protocols like Chromecast or AirPlay.

So while there isn’t a standalone Facebook Watch smart TV app, you can still access Watch on most internet-connected televisions.

Which devices support Facebook Watch?

Facebook Watch is available on:

iOS devices – iPhone, iPad via Facebook app or mobile browser

Android devices – Phones, tablets via Facebook app or Chrome
Computers – PC and Mac via Facebook website
Smart TVs – With Facebook app built-in or downloaded

Streaming devices – Like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV with Facebook app
Game consoles – PlayStation and Xbox with Facebook

Essentially, Facebook Watch works on any device capable of running the Facebook mobile app, viewing the Facebook website, or downloading the Facebook viewing app. This includes phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and more.

How do you control video playback on Watch?

When watching videos on Facebook Watch, you can control playback using the on-screen video controls:

Play/Pause – Press play/pause button or tap on the video to toggle between play and pause.
Replay – Tap the replay icon to go back 10 seconds in the video.

Subtitles – Tap the CC icon to turn on subtitles if available.
Volume – Drag the volume slider left or right to control volume level.
Fullscreen – Tap the fullscreen icon for a larger viewing mode.

Scroll – On computers, hover mouse and scroll to skip forward or back in the video.

The video player controls offer easy ways to play, pause, rewind, enable captions, adjust volume, and more while watching any video on Facebook Watch.

Can you comment on Facebook Watch videos?

Yes, commenting is a core feature of Facebook Watch. Below each video is a comments section where you can view comments from others and leave your own feedback or reactions.

To leave a comment:

Start typing your comment in the text box below the video.
Click Post to submit your comment so others can see it.

Like and reply to other comments in the thread.

The comments allow fans to discuss videos, share reactions, and have conversations around their favorite shows and content on Watch.

Can you share Facebook Watch videos?

Yes, you can easily share videos from Facebook Watch with friends in a few ways:

Copy link – Tap the Share button and copy the video’s URL to paste anywhere.
Share to feed – Tap Share to post the video to your own Facebook feed.
Send via Messenger – Tap Share and send the video link directly through Messenger.

Share to other apps – Tap Share to post the video to Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc.

Sharing helps promote your favorite videos and creators on Watch to more potential viewers. Just tap the Share button below any video to get the unique link or share directly to Facebook and other apps.

Does Facebook Watch cost money?

Features	Free or Paid?
Watching videos	Free
Original shows & series	Free
Live streams	Free
User uploaded videos	Free
Video categories and channels	Free
HD video quality	Free
Video comments	Free
Sharing videos	Free
Creating video pages	Free
Mobile app access	Free

As this table illustrates, every major feature of Facebook Watch is completely free including streaming videos, original programming, commenting, and more. There are no paid tiers or premium subscriptions.

The only cost is indirectly seeing ads before, during, and after videos. But otherwise, anyone can use Facebook Watch at no charge.

Does Facebook Watch pay content creators?

In some cases, yes – Facebook does offer monetization and revenue sharing programs for certain content creators on Watch including:

Ad revenue sharing – Video publishers can earn a 55% share of ad breaks in their videos. The rest goes to Facebook.

Facebook Watch monetization – Qualifying creators and video pages can earn money from their original content.
Facebook Stars – Fans can pay to send virtual gifts during live streams on Watch.
Brand sponsorships – Watch creators can do product placements, sponsorships, and branded content deals.

Earning potential varies widely based on view counts, content type, and monetization eligibility. But Facebook does offer ways for top creators to generate revenue from their Watch content.

What are Facebook Watch shows?

Facebook Watch shows refer to TV-style episodic video series produced specifically for the Watch platform. These include:

Original series – Shows fully financed and produced by Facebook like drama, comedy, reality, and talk shows.

Exclusive shows – Licensed or co-produced with media partners exclusively for Watch.
Continuations – Extra episodes or spinoffs of existing TV shows.
Reformatted shows – TV shows reworked into different formats for social media.

Facebook is investing over $1 billion on original video content. The goal is to make Watch a destination for ‘must see’ shows you can’t find anywhere else. Big stars like Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, and Holly Hunter have starred in Facebook originals.

How does Facebook Watch make money?

Facebook Watch earns revenue in a few key ways:

Advertising sales – Facebook sells video ads during Watch shows and live streams.
Publisher ad sharing – Facebook shares ad revenue with media companies and creators.

Sponsorships – Companies pay to sponsor shows, segments, or live events.
User data – Watch viewer data improves Facebook’s ad targeting and value.

Watch is free for viewers, but Facebook monetizes it heavily through ads, revenue shares, sponsorships, and the valuable data it provides about audience interests and habits.

Conclusion

In summary, Facebook Watch is a free video service available to all Facebook users within the Facebook app and website. It offers a centralized place to watch videos, shows, live streams, and more on-demand. While Watch has ads, users can access all content and features 100% free.

Watch represents Facebook’s strategy to keep users engaged for longer periods. And with well over 2 billion monthly users, the potential audience and revenue for Watch content is massive. So both viewers and creators can benefit from this new video destination and save time by watching top videos in one place.